Fourth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy: “Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation”
Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006
His Majesty Hamad Bin Issa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa,
King of the Kingdom of Bahrain,
We the undersigned, participants at the “Fourth Assembly—Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation – Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006,
Applauding all recent positive developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we call upon your Majesty and the Bahrain authorities:
- To implement further democratic reformers securing separation of powers, independence of the judiciary, the right of citizens to change their government, reforming the electoral system in order to secure fair representation, and empowering elected representatives to have full powers as in any democratic parliament,
- To re-open the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, secure the safety of human rights and democracy defenders and their rights to operate freely and amend the laws restricting freedoms of opinion, the press, and peaceful assembly, and
- To release human rights defenders and others who were arrested since December 2005, in connection with cases related to freedom of expression and peaceful gatherings.
- Nina Tagankino, Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia
- Yulia Gabidulino, Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia
- Bo Tedards, WFTOA, Taiwan
- Blake Hounshell, Ibn Khaldun Centre, Egypt
- Moan Abdulsalam, Etana Press, Syria
- Faisal Abid Al-Sahlani, Iraqi United Nation Association, Member of Parliament, Iraq
- Ayse Demiriz, MAZLUMDER, Turkey
- Geoffrey Harris, Secretarial European Parliament, Brussels
- Gengiz Gandar, Kulture University of Istanbul, Turkey
- Tiens Kahenya, United Party of National Development, Zambia
- Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Movement of Multiparty Democracy, Zambia
- Narad Adhikari, National Front for Democracy in Bhutan, Bhutan
- Charm Tong, Shan Womens Action Network, Burma
- Wu Qiang, Beijing Foreign Studies Univercity, China
- Baramy Mitthiviong, United League for Democracy in Laos, Laos
- Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, Member of Parliament, Malaysia
- Debbie Stothard, Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, Malaysia
- Anselmo Lee, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, South Korea
- Ying-mao Michael Kau, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Taiwan
- Violeta Toncheva, Light Industry Trade Union Organizations Federation, Bulgaria
- Alina Mungiu Pippidi, Romanian Acadamic Society, Romania
- Ilie Rosu, Federatia Craimodex, Romania
- Ivan Pavlov, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Russia
- Jonathan Levack, Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Turkey
- Murat Mercan, AKP Party MP, Turkey
- Yasemin San, Helsinki Citizens Assembly , Turkey
- Cetin Yilmaz, Human Rights Association (IHD), Turkey
- Volodymyr Zavyalov, Bukovyna partnership Agency, Ukraine
- Mariclaire Acosta, Organization of Acerican States, Maxico
- Mohammad Sarwar Hussaini, Cooperation Center for Afghnistan, Afghnistan
- Mohammed Nasib, Selfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan, Afghanistan
- George Ishak, Kifaya Movement, Egypt
- Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies, Egypt
- Saber Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Nayel, Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, Egypt
- Hassan H. Al-Ukaili, Iraqi Organization for Human Rights Coordination, Iraq
- Michel Nawfal, El Mustaqbel Newspaper, Lebanon
- Riad Malki, Panorama Center, Palestine
- Slaheddine Jourchi, Tunisian Human Rights Leaque , Tunisia
- Yousuf Abdallah Aburas, Human Rights Training and Information Center, Yemen
- Ezzadin S. Al-Asbahy, Human Rights Training and Information Center, Yemen
- Charles J. Brown, Citizens for Global Solutions, United States
- Dokhi Fassihian, Democracy Coalition Project, United States
- Robert R. La Gamma, Council for a Community of Democracy, United States
- Debra Liang-Fenton, United States Committee on Human Rights in North Korea, United States
- Dave Peterson, National Endowment for Democracy, United States
- Cynthis Romero, Institute for Democracy in Cuba and Latin America, United States
- Richard Rowson, Council for a Community of Democracies, United States
- Manuel Herrera, Fundacion FAES, Spain
- Evlyn Aellerre, FLPCP, Libu
- Svejtlana Duric, Olof Palmes International Center, Sweden
- Viola Furubjelke, Olof Palmes International Center, Sweden
- Cyril Ritchie, International Civil Society Forum for Democracy, Switzerland
- Antoine Nasri Mesarra, Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace, Lebanon
- Ali Saif Hasan Saleh, Yemeni Organization for Defense of Human Rights and Democrat, Yemen
- Ashour Al-Shamis, Libya Human and Political Development Forum, Libya
- Mohamed Al-Yahyai, Middle East Broadcasting Network- AlHurra TV, Oman
- Amal Al Basha, Sisters’ Arabic Forum for Human Rights, Yemen
- Jezair Hassan, Evaluation Center, Iraq
- Asma Khader, Sisterhood in Global Institute, Jordan
- Fathallah (Abu Khalid) Omrani, Garment and Textile Workers Union, Jordan
- Fadlallah Hassona, Development of People and Nature Association, Lebanon
- Lina Quora, Sisterhood in Global Institute, Jordan
- A. S. Alwalu, Yemen, Yemen
Fourth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy: “Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation”
Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006
His Majesty Hamad Bin Issa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa,
King of the Kingdom of Bahrain,
We the undersigned, participants at the “Fourth Assembly—Advancing Democracy: Justice, Pluralism, and Participation – Istanbul, Turkey, April 2-5, 2006,
Applauding all recent positive developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we call upon your Majesty and the Bahrain authorities:
We wish your Majesty all the best in your efforts in turning Bahrain into a model in the region of democracy and prosperity.